Windy City Wanderers!

🎨🍷 Art After Dark: 3rd Fridays in Bridgeport @ BAC, ALMA & IRON Gallery 🖼️🌙

3rd Fridays / Open Studios @ Bridgeport Art Center, ALMA & IRON Gallery

📅 Friday, 1/16/26
⏰ 6:30–10:30 PM
📍 ALMA Gallery, 3636 S Iron St (Bridgeport)

Join us for Third Friday Open Studios, a FREE monthly art walk celebrating Chicago’s BRIDGEPORT vibrant creative community. Explore working studios, meet artists, and view new exhibitions across ALMA Gallery, IRON Gallery, and Bridgeport Art Center. Wander at your own pace and soak in over 10,000 sq. ft. of art.

🎟 Free | Registration preferred (walk-ins OK):
• Bridgeport Art Center: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bridgeport-art-center-third-friday-open-studios-january-2026-tickets-1979360677068
• ALMA Gallery: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/third-fridays-at-alma-gallery-tickets-1478668038909
• IRON Gallery: no registration required

🗺 Itinerary:
• 6:30–7:30 PM: ALMA Gallery & IRON Gallery
• 7:40–10:00 PM: Bridgeport Art Center

🖼 New Exhibitions at Bridgeport Art Center:
• Pictures of You (4th Floor)
• Traces in Time (3rd Floor)
• Art Speaks: Abstract Expressions (3rd Floor)
• Ongoing: Tenant Artists Corridor Gallery (4th Floor)

🚪 Enter via Atrium Entrance for Bridgeport Art Center (34th Pl & Racine)
🅿️ Free parking in north lot • Look for colored LED lights at Bridgeport Art Center
🍷 Beer & wine available • 21+ • No BYOB / No pets

🍽 Optional food plans before/after (Bold Mongol, Antique Taco, or Phil’s Pizza—cash only). Message me if interested.

🚇 CTA-friendly (near 35th St/White Sox) | https://www.transitchicago.com/planatrip/

⚠️ No-show policy applies (3 no-shows = 3-month RSVP freeze).

✨⛪ Faith & Legacy: A Guided Tour of the Mother Cabrini Shrine ✨🙏

🌿 An Inspiring Morning at Chicago’s National Shrine of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini ✨

Join us for a special private, docent-led tour of the National Shrine of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, a serene and historically rich sacred space nestled in the heart of Lincoln Park. This immersive experience explores the life, legacy, and mission of Mother Cabrini, America’s first canonized saint, whose work transformed Chicago’s immigrant and Catholic communities forever.

This is a stationary guided church tour — no walking route, no neighborhood stroll — allowing us to slow down, reflect, and truly absorb the stories, artwork, architecture, and spiritual significance of this remarkable site.

Expect beautiful sacred art, historic artifacts, relics of Mother Cabrini, and powerful stories of compassion, service, and perseverance — all brought to life by a knowledgeable docent. ✨

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### 🕰️ Schedule, Meeting Info & Cost

📅 Saturday Afternoon 1/17/26 @ 12pm
📍 National Shrine of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini – 2520 N Lakeview Ave, Chicago
⏱️ Tour length: ~90 minutes
💰 Cost: $15 per person donation
💵 Cash strongly preferred
(Zelle / Venmo / PayPal accepted if needed so I can submit one group donation)
⚠️ All attendees must check in with me at the start of the tour and submit payment directly to me so I can give to the church

📸 Photography is allowed — please be respectful of the sacred space.

🎤 Private docent-led tour arranged exclusively for our group.

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### 🌟 What We’ll Experience

⛪ The beautifully restored chapel and shrine spaces
🎨 Religious artwork, stained glass, and devotional details
📜 Exhibits highlighting Mother Cabrini’s life and mission
🕊️ Stories of faith, immigration, service, and social justice
🙏 Time for quiet reflection and appreciation of the space
This is not a walking tour — everything takes place inside and on the immediate grounds of the Shrine.

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### 📖 About the Mother Cabrini Shrine

The National Shrine of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini honors the life and legacy of Mother Cabrini (1850–1917), founder of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Responding to the needs of immigrants, especially Italian newcomers, she established schools, hospitals, and orphanages across the United States — including several in Chicago.

The Shrine stands on the former grounds of Columbus Hospital, one of Mother Cabrini’s most important institutions. Today, it serves as a place of prayer, education, and inspiration, continuing her mission of compassion, dignity, and service to others.

Mother Cabrini’s legacy resonates far beyond Catholic history — her work shaped Chicago’s social services, healthcare systems, and immigrant advocacy at a pivotal moment in the city’s growth.

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### 🍽️ Optional Lunch After the Tour

After the tour, those interested are welcome to join for lunch at a nearby Lincoln Park restaurant.
🍽️ Options will be shared closer to the date.
⚠️ Please bring cash — some venues may not split checks.

***

### 👟 What to Bring:

• Camera for photo ops
• Water bottle
• $15 tour donation (exact change appreciated; cash preferred but Zelle, Venmo, PayPal accepted)

🚇 Getting There
Public transportation is easy and recommended.
Use Google Maps or CTA Trip Planner:
https://www.transitchicago.com/planatrip/
🚗 Parking

• Free and metered street parking nearby
• Generally easy to find during daytime hours
• Always check posted signs

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### 📝 RSVP & No-Show Policy

✔️ Please keep your RSVP updated
✔️ Cancel if your plans change
❌ Repeat no-shows may result in removal from future events

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✨⛪ Join us for a meaningful, enriching visit to the Mother Cabrini Shrine — a space filled with history, faith, service, and inspiration. ✨

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### 🍴 Food Options

There’s truly something for everyone: seafood, tacos, ramen, dumplings, burgers, Italian, Indian, Lebanese, sushi, fried chicken, cupcakes, donuts, chocolates, milkshakes, and more — all from beloved Chicago chefs and local favorites.

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### 🍴 Eateries Inside Time Out Market Chicago

With so many options under one roof, you’ll have no trouble finding something delicious to enjoy:

🐟 Hooligan
Michelin-star chef Christian Hunter’s first solo concept — a lively seafood and wine bar reimagining Midwestern seafood.
🌮 Tacotlán
Family-owned favorite known for viral quesabirria tacos, birria grilled cheese, burritos, bowls, and classic tacos.
🥪 Craft & Carvery
Rotisserie meats and handcrafted sandwiches from the team behind Botanero, including porchetta and meatball smash sandwiches.
🍜 Bill Kim Ramen Bar
Creative ramen inspired by Korean, Vietnamese, and Mexican flavors — from comforting classics to bold twists.
🍫 Chocolates by JK
Award-winning artisanal chocolates by chef Jorge Kauam, including the viral Dubai chocolate bar.
🍩 2d Restaurant – Mochi Donuts
Immersive black-and-white comic-style space serving mochi donuts, boba teas, and Vietnamese coffee.
🥗 Vitasana
Health-forward, crave-worthy dishes featuring slow-roasted meats, fermented vegetables, and plant-based options.
🍔 Gutenburg
German-American smash burgers with premium ingredients and standout sides like brown-butter sweet potato fries.
🍛 Bar Goa
Coastal Indian cuisine inspired by Goa, with seafood, curries, and dishes perfect with cocktails or beer.
🥤 JoJo’s ShakeBAR
Retro diner vibes with over-the-top milkshakes and nostalgic flair.
🥙 Libanais
Family-run Lebanese spot serving shawarma, falafel, mezze, and must-try baklava.
🍣 Madai
Japanese cuisine with Latin and Pan-Asian influences, featuring inventive rolls, nigiri, and sashimi.
🧁 Molly’s Cupcakes
A longtime Chicago favorite for whimsical cupcakes, cookies, brownies, and breakfast sandwiches.
🍝 Stefani’s Bottega Italiana
Handmade pastas, Roman-style pizza, and Italian sandwiches from Chicago’s first family of Italian cuisine.
🥟 Qing Xiang Yuan (QXY) Mini
Legendary soup dumplings made fresh daily with classic and creative fillings.
🍗 Sporty Bird
Southern comfort food by Art Smith, featuring famous fried chicken, mac & cheese, and hummingbird cake.
🥢 Urbanbelly
Chef Bill Kim’s globally inspired comfort food blending Asian flavors with Midwest roots.

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🔗 Learn more about Time Out Market Chicago:
https://www.timeoutmarket.com/chicago
https://www.timeoutmarket.com/chicago/eat-and-drink/

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### 🚆 Getting There

• Public transit: Easily accessible by CTA bus and train — use Google Maps or the CTA Trip Planner
• Driving: Paid parking nearby; watch permit-only signs. SpotHero or ParkingWhiz often has $10–$11 options

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### ⚠️ No-Show Policy Reminder

• Please update your RSVP if plans change
• 3 no-shows without updating your RSVP = 3-month pause from events
• RSVP cutoff is the event start time
• If late or attending, please check in with the host

***

Let’s enjoy great food, drinks, and company — one last time before this Chicago favorite is gone forever 🍷✨

🥂🎄 All-You-Can-Eat Holiday Brunch Magic @ Chief O’Neill’s 🍳

All-You-Can-Eat Spectacular Sunday Brunch Buffet @ Chief O’Neill’s — Christmas Edition!

I was finally able to secure a reservation for 22 people for the legendary Sunday Brunch Buffet at Chief O’Neill’s in Irving Park East! Their brunch is famous, so come hungry — and even better, their CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS ARE STILL UP 🎄✨ and are truly something to see. The décor covers the entire restaurant, creating an over-the-top, cozy, and incredibly festive atmosphere you don’t want to miss.

🥞 Foodie Alert!
If you love great food, this brunch is for you. It’s a true all-you-can-eat feast, including THREE chocolate fountains 😍 — absolutely worth it.

💲 Pricing
• $32 Adults
• $23 Children under 12
• Under 1 year: Free
🍾 Bottomless Mimosas, Bloody Marys & Margaritas: +$25
(And yes — truly bottomless during brunch hours!)

👥 Seating Details
• Tables seat 4–6 people
• Group breakdown: 6 + 6 + 6 + 4 = 22 guests
• We may be spread across several tables, but I’ll do my best to keep us close

📋 Important Dining Notes
• Brunch menu ONLY (regular menu not available during brunch)
• Please review the menu in advance
👉 https://www.chiefoneillspub.com/sunday-brunch

💵 Payment Info — PLEASE READ
• NO separate checks for groups
• BRING CASH
• Take your total and add 32% (12% Chicago tax + 20% tip)
Cash keeps things smooth and efficient — thank you!

🏛️ Why Chief O’Neill’s Is Special
Awarded Top 10 Irish Pubs in the World (2013), this beloved Chicago institution feels like a cozy Irish country backyard — even indoors. Incredible food, warm hospitality, and deep Chicago–Irish history make this place unforgettable.

📍 Chief O’Neill’s Pub
🌐 https://www.chiefoneillspub.com
📘 https://www.facebook.com/chiefoneills

🚇 Getting There
CTA friendly — Google Maps or CTA Trip Planner
https://www.transitchicago.com/planatrip/

🚗 Parking
Plenty of free street parking on Elston & nearby side streets (watch signs).

⚠️ NO-SHOW POLICY (IMPORTANT)
• 3 no-shows = 3-month event freeze
• RSVP cutoff = event start time
• Must check in with the host
• Continued no-shows may result in removal from the group

✨ Come hungry, soak in the holiday magic, and enjoy one of Chicago’s best brunches! 🎄🍀